Testing device



F. E. HARPST.

TESTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILEDINOV. 29. I918.

Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

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FREDERICK E. HARPST,

0F HOUSTON, TEXAS.

TESTING DEVICE.

Application filed November 29, 1918.

T 0 all whom 172, may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK E. HARPST, a citizen of the United States, residing at Houston, in the county of Harris and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Testing Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a testing device.

The object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described, whereby a motor, or similar device, embodying a cylinder and a piston operating therein, may lie-tested.

As is well known, the piston of the cylinder of an ordinary motor, or similar, device, with the piston connections, often acquires too much play, either on account of one, or both, of the connecting rod bearings becoming worn and loose, or by reason of the wear of the cylinder walls and piston. It is often difficult to detect this condition by reason of the fact that the piston is inaccessible and the test thereof can not be made manually. This device has been provided for making such tests, as well as to test the piston to determine whether or not it leaks compression.

The device herein described may be also used as an ordinary air pump, or grease or on gun.

With the above and other the invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction, operation and arrangement of parts, an example of which is given in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure l, showsa sectional view of a cylinder. and a piston therein with the testing device applied thereto, showing the position of the piston, connecting rod and crank shaft, on center in full lines, and showing the position of these parts off of center in dotted lines.

Fig. 2, shows an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the nozzle and of the testin device, and

ig. 3, shows a side view trolling pin.

Referring now more drawings, wherein like once designate similar parts in each of the figures, the numeral 1, indicates a cylinder, having the piston 2, therein. The numeral 3, indicates a crank shaft, having the crank objects in view,

of the valve conparticularly to the numerals of refer-v Specification of Letters Patent.

which ma Patented Apr. 13, 19%). Serial No. 264,615.

pin 4, which is connected to the piston through the connecting rod 5. The testing device is applied so as to communicate with the compression chamber 6, and in the case of an internal combustion motor, will be applied through the spark plug opening 7, or other convenient opening to the cylinder.

The numeral 8, refers to a cylindrical barrel in which the plunger 9 fits, said. plunger being fastened to the inner end of the plunger rod 10. This rod plays through a stuliing box or guide 11, carried by the outer end of the barrel, and may be either manually or mechanically operated. As shown, the plunger 9 is operated through the instrumentality of the handle 12, which is secured to the outer end of the plunger rod. Near the outer end of the barrel, it is provided with a plurality ofair ports 13, y be opened and closed by means of the slidable collar ll, on the barrel. Threaded upon the opposite end of the barrel ving a central passageway 16, formed into a valve seat 17. A valve 18, cooperates with this seat to open and close the passageway, and is normally held seated by means of the coil spring 19, which is interposed between said valve, and the annular ring 20, which is threaded into the free end of the nipple. The free end of 8, is a nipple 15, ha

the nipple is reduced and outwardly threaded as at 21, so as to be readily screwed into the spark plug opening, or other tapped hole entering the compression chamber 6. A pin 22 is provided which passes through the nipple, and projects into the passageway 16. The outer end of this pin has an enlarged outwardly threaded head 23, which screws into the internally threaded socket 2 1-. The inner end of this pin has the laterally projecting linger 25, and when the pin is suitably turned, this linger contacts against the valve 18, and overcomes the pressure of the spring 19, and holds the valve open.

Vfhen the pin is turned to withdraw the finger 25, from the valve, the latter is then free-to perform its normal function. The nipple 15 is also provided with the internally threaded socket 126, and leading from this socket, is an air passageway 27, which enters the passageway 16 outside of the valve 18. 'lhreaded into the socket 26, is :1 Pill" 28, which has a tapering groove 29, in one side. The capacity of this groove and volume of air admitted through it may be regulated by screwing the plug in or out.

motor so that the As the plug is screwed outwardly, the volume of air admitted is increased, and vice versa. 1

The device is illustrated as applied in Fig. 1, wherein the nipple 15 is shown screwed into the spark plug opening, of a cylinder. In using the device in this connection, the air ports collar 14, and the pin 22 is turned, and the finger 25 opens the valve 18. The plunger rod 10, is then pulled outwardly to exhaust the air from the compression chamber 6, and creates a'vacuum therein. When the piston connections are on center, it may be tested for loose connection bearings and for compression. When in this position, the air pressure will force the piston and connections upwardly in the cylinder, provided the connecting rod, or'other bearings are loose, or have too much play. The leakage of air past the piston rings, or if none, the inlet of air through the passageway 27. will partially dissipate the vacuum at end of stroke, and when the plunger rod 10 is forced downwardly, the compression in the chamber 6 will force the piston and connection back. This movement of the piston back and forth will create an audible knock, or a visible movement of parts, if such are in view from interior of motor, indicating that the connections to the piston have too much play and revealing the necessity of repairs.

Sometimes the piston and cylinder walls become worn, so that they do not contact properly. Whether or not this condition exists. may be determined by turning the rod, will be off of center, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The upward pull on the plunger 9 will then cause a lateral movement of the piston in the direction of the arrow A, Fig. 1, and the downward movement of the plunger 9..will cause a lateral movement of the piston in the direction of the arrow B, Fig. 1, thus revealing the lateral play of the piston.

In order to determine the exact amount of movement of the piston in the cylinder, when being tested, a gage may be used, such as is used in Fig. 1'. [This gage includes the bracket 30, which may be readily attached or detached from the crank shaft bearing. This bracket carries a test gage 31, and projecting therefrom, is a light operating rod 32, which extends up into the cylinder, and whose free end rests against the piston head.

13 are covered by thecrank pin and connecting The piston movement toward and from the crank shaft is thus accurately revealed, by the test gage.

When the device is used for the purpose of testing to determine whether or. not the cylinder leaks compression, a pressure gage 33 is employed, which is connected to the nipple 15, by removing the plug 28,.and screwing the gage'in the tapped hole from which said plug has been removed. The pin 23 is then turned to permit the operation of the valve 18, and when air is pumped into the cylinder chamber, the amount of pressure will be indicated by said gage. If the cylinder has a leakage, it will be readily indicated by the gage, the length of time required for the cylinder to lose its compression indicating the eihciency of the cyl inder. The other cylinders of the motor may be then similarly tested and their relative efiiciency thus accurately determined. It is, of course, obvious'that when the motor is tested for compression, it would be turned 'so as to close the corresponding motor valves.

\Vhat I claim is: 1. A device of the character described, in-

, eluding a barrel, one end of which is formed into a stufling box, and the other end or which is formed into a nipple, having a fluid passageway therethrough, a plunger in said barrel, a plunger rod fitted through said smiling box, to which said plunger is secured, a valve controlling said passageway, a resilient seat, normally holding the valve closed, and means carried by the nipple and arranged to be manipulated to hold said valve open.

2. A device of the character described, including a barrel, one end of which is provided with a port, and the other end of which is provided with a nipple having a fluid passageway therethrough, a plunger in said barrel, means for reciprocating said plunger, means for closing said port, a valve controlling said passageway, and means for holding said valve open to permit the free passage of fluid into, and the free exhaust of fluid from, said barrel.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribin witnesses.

rntnnnron E. nanrs'r.

Witnesses:

E. V. HARDWAY, 'R. MARVIN SMITH. 

